A Critique of the Movie, The Birdcage (La Cage aux Folles)

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Recommended: Gender roles in film

A Critique of the Movie, The Birdcage (La Cage aux Folles)

A gay couple, living in a gay apartment, with a gay houseboy, above a gay nightclub, in a gay city . . . and they have to straighten it all out for one evening. In 1996 La Cage aux Folles (a 1978 French play) was remade by MGM into The Birdcage, a daringly flamboyant comedy that is in-tune with the times and redefines the idea of family values. It combines the talents of Robin Williams (Armand), Nathan Lane (Albert), and Hank Azaria (Agador) with writer Elaine May and director Mike Nichols. The film is brought to life by the superb uniqueness of each character and what they bring to the screen and add to the plot. This film sheds a new light on non-traditional but equally effective family values and role models through a series of hysterical follies.

The Birdcage is a film about a gay couple who have to act straight when their son's fiance's conservative, Republican parents are planning a visit. Amidst the hysterically dramatic disasters involved with this event two valuable lessons are taught. They are lessons in avoiding self denial, and accepting various forms of family values. What makes The Birdcage wonderful, aside from the lessons it teaches, is it's combination of great acting abilities, the unique role of each character, and the extravagant set and props used.

A great comedy team is only to be expected when you hear the names Williams and Lane together, and a great team is exactly what The Birdcage delivers. Lane, a Tony Award nominee really changes gears for this film from his usual Broadway stage performances. He plays Albert, the feminine half of the gay couple who own The Birdcage nightclub. He appears nightly in the club's dr...

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...ovie worth seeing if you want a good laugh along side a good dose of family values. With such a stellar cast, crew, and director, only a movie of such absolute hysteria delivering such sound messages could be produced. These qualities are what make The Birdcage a wonderful movie.

Works Cited

Alexander, Al. "'Birdcage' Sounds Sour Note." The Patriot Ledger 8 March 1996: 15+.

Daly, Steve. "The Farce Side." Entertaiment Weekly 20 December 1996: 88-89.

Anson, David. "Gay Films are a Drag.Ó" Newsweek 18 March 1996: 71.

Maslin, Janet. "La Cage aux Folles, But in South Beach." New York Times 8 March 1996: C3.

Carr, Jay. "Birdcage Sings." Boston Globe 8 March 1996: 47+.

Hartigan, Patti. "Birdcage Clips Right Wingers." Boston Globe 22 March 1996: 47+.

Nichols, Mike, dir. The Birdcage. Perf. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. MGM, 1996.

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